As the Senate left Capitol Hill to start a one month summer break, Democrats gave up their blockade on 66 Executive Branch nominations from President Donald Trump, allowing the approval of the biggest batch of nominees so far in the President's first six months in office, as Democrats gave up their slow-walking of Trump nominations in the aftermath of the Senate's defeat of a GOP plan to dramatically change the Obama health law.

"The Senate has confirmed more Executive Branch nominees this week than all of the Executive Branch nominees confirmed this year combined," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"This was an important step toward filling critical roles throughout the administration, including the deputies at multiple cabinet offices," McConnell added.

Democrats had held up many Trump nominees in protest of the process used by the GOP to push ahead on legislation to overhaul the Obama health law, angered by a lack of hearings and a lack of input by Democrats.

"The two are tied together," said Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer. "You can't avoid regular order when you want to and then say Democrats should use regular order whenever you want us to."